[Jeonbuk COVID-19] 'Bangpanbal' Transmission, Is the Local Quarantine Barrier Breaking Down... Growing Concerns

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Gominhyeong] The nature of door-to-door sales crossing regions seems to be fueling the spread of COVID-19 regional infections.

Recently, the infection originating from the Itaewon clubs that swept through the Seoul metropolitan area appeared to slow down after the 21st confirmed case in Jeonbuk on the 19th of last month, seeming to lose momentum.

However, as the 50th and 55th confirmed cases in Daejeon visited Jeonju for door-to-door sales, the local infection spread is showing a steep upward trend, causing the provincial health authorities to be on high alert.

On the 21st, a woman in her 20s living in Iksan tested positive as the 24th COVID-19 case and is currently hospitalized at Jeonbuk National University Hospital.

It has been identified that this woman is a friend of the 33rd confirmed case in Gwangju.

The provincial health authorities are estimating the main link of this infection source to be restaurants and other places visited by the 50th and 55th confirmed cases in Daejeon.

These confirmed cases in Daejeon were found to have spent time at a door-to-door sales venue attended by about 80 people, followed by time at a restaurant.

The problem lies in the fact that among the people who visited this restaurant, new confirmed cases have caused secondary infections again.

The provincial health authorities believe that the 33rd confirmed case in Gwangju, who is presumed to have been infected at this restaurant, transmitted the virus to the 24th confirmed case in Jeonbuk.

Earlier, epidemiological investigations revealed that the 22nd confirmed case in Jeonbuk, a high school girl, had stayed for ‘just about 5 minutes’ next to the 50th and 55th confirmed cases in Daejeon at the same restaurant.

The health authorities are focusing administrative efforts on identifying the people who visited this restaurant and tracing their movements.

A provincial health official urged, “Visitors who were at the same place during the relevant time recently should contact their local health center.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.